Nasa unveils plans for manned missions to the moon – but what will they achieve, 40 years on from the first lunar landing? Samira Ahmed reports.

Mankind is taking steps to get back on the moon, as Nasa launches a mission aimed at finding sites for potential moon bases.

The TV series Space 1999 had predicted it 10 years ago, although there is no indication from the latest mission that the moon will be used for nuclear storage.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral air force station this afternoon, is designed to map the moon’s surface so Nasa can find safe and scientifically interesting landing spots for future missions.